The Valerie Beston Artists’ Trust was established in 2006 on the death of Miss Valerie Beston, a former director of Marlborough Fine Art, to support artists at the beginning of their careers. The Trustees are Rosemary Morgan (Miss Beston’s niece), Kate Austin, Alison Meek and Pilar Ordovas.

The charity is pleased to have collaborated since 2007 with the Royal College of Art to award an annual prize to a postgraduate student selected from its degree show. The prize comprises a studio for a year at SPACE, a financial contribution towards materials, tutorial support generously provided by the RCA, and an exhibition at the end of the year – since 2020 Ordovas has held the winners’ exhibition.